Son Heung-min set for UEFA final as Tottenham dismisses injury fears

There is no cause for concern. Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) can participate in the final where his first trophy is at stake. Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed it himself.

Tottenham stated on the 12th (Korean time) via the club's website, "Postecoglou noted that captain Son Heung-min hopes to 'spring forward now' after returning from injury in the match against Crystal Palace last Sunday."

Furthermore, "Son Heung-min, who had missed 7 matches due to foot issues over the last month, started playing again after coming off the bench in the 13th minute of the second half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Naturally, the countdown has begun for the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao. Postecoglou added that if everything goes as planned, Son Heung-min will maintain 'good condition' in Spain."

Tottenham will face Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final for the 2024-2025 season on the 22nd at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain. Surprisingly, Tottenham and Manchester United, who are currently 17th and 16th in the Premier League, will meet at the highest stage of European competition.

This is the last chance to end the worst season on a high note. Tottenham recorded 20 losses in the league, setting a new club record for the most losses in a single season since the Premier League was founded. Going back in time, it was the last time Tottenham recorded 20 losses in a 38-game season was in the 1912-1913 season. However, if they can manage to defeat Manchester United just once, they could achieve both breaking a 17-year trophy drought and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

The most positive aspect for Tottenham is that Son Heung-min has returned. He had missed 7 consecutive matches due to a foot injury since the match against Frankfurt on the 11th of last month. Fortunately, Son Heung-min was substituted in during the second half of the match against Palace on the 11th, managing to play for about 32 minutes. He seemed to lack match fitness, but it was a welcomed return.

Son Heung-min is also expected to participate in the away match against Villa on the 17th. Postecoglou noted after the Palace match, "I was glad that Son Heung-min could play for a few minutes. I hope he can secure more time against Villa. It’s good that he is back and able to participate in the games."

Now, concerns about Son Heung-min possibly missing the final can be put to rest. In this press conference, Postecoglou stated, "Son Heung-min's physical condition is good. The few minutes he played yesterday were important. He needed playing time. More than anything, it was very important for him psychologically." He added, "He also trained well today. He couldn’t participate in the whole session because he played yesterday. Son Heung-min is in good condition, and there are still 8-9 days left. There’s another match on Friday to elevate his condition."

He also emphasized, "Son Heung-min is recovering well. He played 30 minutes yesterday and needs to play a few minutes in the Villa match too. If he trains well, he will be in good condition. Son Heung-min worked hard with the medical staff to return. It was a somewhat funny injury, and there was no set return time. It just mattered how he felt and how things progressed. It was important for Son Heung-min to secure playing time, and now we hope he can spring forward."

This final is also an opportunity that Son Heung-min cannot afford to miss. He made his professional debut in Hamburg, Germany, in 2010, but in the 15 years since, he has never lifted a trophy. Even after spending 10 years at Tottenham, his best result has always been second place.

This is Son Heung-min's third time reaching a club competition final. He played in the UEFA Champions League final in the 2018-2019 season but lost 0-2 to Liverpool. In the 2020-2021 season, he appeared in the League Cup final but fell short against Manchester City, finishing as runner-up and shedding tears.

With '3rd time's the charm', Son Heung-min is challenging for his first victory. Manager Postecoglou is well aware of his desire to win. He noted, "I'm happy that Son Heung-min can play. He has been a significant driving force for us this season. He understands better than anyone else what a trophy will mean for the team and himself."

Postecoglou added, "That’s because Son Heung-min has an incredible career that every player aspires to except for the trophy. Son Heung-min knows how important winning is for the club and for himself. So, it’s a good thing that he is now able to participate again."

Now Son Heung-min's biggest challenge is to maximize his match readiness for the final. He must not follow in the footsteps of Harry Kane from the 2018-2019 season. At that time, Tottenham benched Lucas Moura, who was the hero of the 'semi-final second leg hat trick,' and started Kane, who had just returned from injury. However, Kane struggled throughout the match, and Tottenham lost 0-2.

Fortunately, Son Heung-min is likely to start in the Villa match, making the situation different from Kane's. Manager Postecoglou also believes he will be able to showcase his skills against Manchester United. It seems that he will not miss the final or risk returning too soon only to be disappointed.

The moment Son Heung-min lifts the trophy while wearing the Tottenham jersey is a long-cherished dream. Last August, he stated, "I still don’t think I am a legend of this team. I have said that I want to win something with Tottenham. If that happens, I could be very happy to be called a legend."

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